Service-related plan

There are several types of coordination:

Positive coordination means that service time from different pension schemes can be combined in order to qualify for a pension.

If you have at least 12 months of service time in MPK, you may also include service time from:

• The Guarantee Fund for Fishermen /Garantikassen for fiskere
• Service on Norwegian state-owned ships
• Service on ships from EU/EEA countries

The service time from these sources can be added together to meet the requirement of 150 months, which entitles you to a pension. The pension is calculated based on the months you have earned in MPK. This “hjelpetid” can only be used if you in total reach at least 150 months.

Public AFP (Contractual Early Retirement Pension)

If you were born before 1963 and receive public AFP before turning 65, the pension from MPK will be reduced or stopped. When you turn 65, you will again receive your pension from MPK as usual. Any coordination is then carried out by those administering the public AFP.

If you were born in 1963 or later, there will be no coordination between the pension from MPK and public AFP (New rules from 2025).

Private Pension

You can withdraw a private pension without it affecting the pension you receive from MPK. Note: if you withdraw your MPK pension before the age of 62, it may affect your entitlement to AFP in the private sector, and to public AFP if you were born in 1963 or later.

We recommend that you contact your AFP provider to check whether this will have an impact.

National Insurance pension from the National Insurance Scheme

There is no coordination between MPK and the National Insurance pension from the National Insurance Scheme. This means that from the age of 62, you can withdraw both MPK and the National Insurance pension without any deductions.

You can apply through the member portal on our website. If you have earned pension rights from us, you will receive information about your rights before you turn 60. You may lose your entitlements if you do not apply. Pension payments can only be backpaid for up to three years.

Service related plan

You may be entitled to a refund of pension contribusions
If you have between 36 and 149 months of pensionable seagoing service time, you may receive a partial refund of the contributions you paid once you reach pension age.

You are not entitled to a refund if you:

• receive 100% disability benefits
• receive work assessment allowance
• receive public AFP (contractual early retirement pension) from the National Insurance Scheme at pension age Note: New rules apply for public AFP.
• To receive a refund, you must also have stopped earning pensionable seagoing service time.

Only relevant for those born before 1965:

Between the ages of 60 and 67, you may receive a pension supplement if you meet the following requirements:

• You must have at least 36 months of pensionable seafaring service during the last 60 months before you start drawing your pension or reach pension age.
• Only service for which both employee and employer contributions have been paid counts.
• Your annual pensionable income must not exceed twice the National Insurance basic amount (G).
• You will not receive the pension supplement if you take out a reduced pension before the age of 60, even if you meet the other requirements.

Will I receive a pension if I am or become disabled?

For those born before 1970 with seafaring service:
This depends on whether you are fully or partially disabled. You cannot receive a pension or a lump-sum payment at the same time as receiving work assessment allowance or 100% disability benefits. If you receive partial disability benefits, your pension payment will be reduced accordingly.

For those born on or after January 1, 1970, or who started working at sea for the first time after January 1, 2020:
You will not receive a pension if you are receiving 100% disability pension or work assessment allowance (AAP) from the National Insurance Scheme between the ages of 62 and 67. If you receive reduced disability pension or AAP during this period, the reduction of your pension account will be adjusted accordingly.

For workers at sea who commenced their seagoing service after 1968, a deferred retirement between the age of 60 and 65 applies depending on how many months have been accrued after the age of 40.

For those born before 1970 with accrued service time:

The pensionable age is 60 for those with at least 120 months of sea service (10 years) after turning 40. Before reaching age 62, it is assumed that you have ended your sea service. If you have less than 120 months of service time after age 40, your pensionable age will be deferred by one month for every two months you are short of the 120-month requirement after age 40. If you have no service time after turning 40, the pensionable age becomes 65.

For those born on or after January 1, 1970, or who began seagoing service for the first time on or after January 1, 2020:

You can start drawing your pension from the month you turn 62 up to and including the month you turn 70. This means you are free to choose when you want to start receiving your pension within this period.

No, but national service before 1981 may count towards the minimum pension requirement (150 months of seagoing service). National service must have been commenced within six months after expiry of a pensionable period or maritime training.

Yes, if the vessel was part of a separate agreement until 30 April 1993 and you paid contributions for the period. After 1 May 1993, you accrue pension for service on foreign vessels for a Norwegian employer if contributions were paid for that period. Yes, if after 1 May 1993 you have been a voluntary member during your service on a foreign vessel for a foreign employer.

You do not earn pension rights, but the time spent on a ship from another EEA country counts when determining whether the minimum requirement for pension entitlement is met (150 months for the service time based scheme or 3 years of accrual time for the income-based scheme). You must provide the documentation to us yourself so that we can assess whether this time can be included.

The Pension Fund covers

• Norwegian nationals
• foreign nationals permanently residing in Norway and registered with the National Registry
• nationals of other EEA countries (but no earlier than from 1 January 1994)
• third country nationals who are resident in another Nordic country (but no earlier than from 1 September 2004)

who are employees on vessels covered by the scheme.

You must normally have a minimum of 150 months of seagoing service to qualify for a pension. If you have between 12 and 149 months of seagoing service, you will be able to add certain types of external seagoing service to meet the minimum requirement:

• Seagoing service from the Norwegian Guarantee Fund for Fishermen
• Service under another public service pension scheme (e.g. the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund) applicable to accrual of service on maritime vessels
• National service completed before 1981 if your service commenced within six months of the expiry of pensionable service or maritime training
• Service on other EU/EEA-country vessels according to the provisions of the Agreement on the European Economic Area

Your external seagoing service is not included in the basis for calculation of the size of your pension.

The Pension Fund covers

• Norwegian nationals
• foreign nationals permanently residing in Norway and registered with the National Registry
• nationals of other EEA countries (but no earlier than from 1 January 1994)
• third country nationals who are resident in another Nordic country (but no earlier than from 1 September 2004)

who are employees on vessels covered by the scheme.

Will I receive a pension if I am or become disabled?

For those born before 1970 with seafaring service:
This depends on whether you are fully or partially disabled. You cannot receive a pension or a lump-sum payment at the same time as receiving work assessment allowance or 100% disability benefits. If you receive partial disability benefits, your pension payment will be reduced accordingly.

For those born on or after January 1, 1970, or who started working at sea for the first time after January 1, 2020:
You will not receive a pension if you are receiving 100% disability pension or work assessment allowance (AAP) from the National Insurance Scheme between the ages of 62 and 67. If you receive reduced disability pension or AAP during this period, the reduction of your pension account will be adjusted accordingly.

Yes, if the vessel was part of a separate agreement until 30 April 1993 and you paid contributions for the period. After 1 May 1993, you accrue pension for service on foreign vessels for a Norwegian employer if contributions were paid for that period. Yes, if after 1 May 1993 you have been a voluntary member during your service on a foreign vessel for a foreign employer.

No. On fishing vessels with a gross tonnage of more than 100 tonnes, only employees in seaman’s positions are covered. Fishermen are covered by their own pension insurance which is managed by the Norwegian Guarantee Fund for Fishermen.

Read more here

The Pension Fund covers

• Norwegian nationals
• foreign nationals permanently residing in Norway and registered with the National Registry
• nationals of other EEA countries (but no earlier than from 1 January 1994)
• third country nationals who are resident in another Nordic country (but no earlier than from 1 September 2004)

who are employees on vessels covered by the scheme.